IL-7

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

IL-7 is a cytokine that is produced by stromal cells in the red bone marrow. It is crucial for lymphocyte development.

Function[edit | edit source]

IL-7 stimulates the differentiation of multipotent (pluripotent) hematopoietic stem cells into lymphoid progenitor cells. It also stimulates proliferation of all cells in the lymphoid lineage (B cells, T cells and NK cells), in the presence of other cytokines, such as IL-2.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

IL-7 can be used in the treatment of certain health conditions. For instance, it is used in HIV therapy, where it can improve the immune system's response to the virus. It is also being studied for use in the treatment of cancer, as it can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


IL-7 Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD